Career Summary

Qualifications

Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 18/08/1999

Bachelor of Social Science, University of Newcastle, 13/10/1995

Research

Research keywords

Cultural Identity

Intercountry adoption

Intercultural Families

Race relations

Research expertise

Dr Kim Gray has been conducting sociological research in the areas of intercountry adoption, intercultural families and issues about cultural belonging and racial difference since the late 1990s. She conducted research on adoptive families' experiences of the adoption process in Australia as part of her Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) degree (1999), receiving the Faculty of Arts Deans Award for this research and the University Medal for her excellent undergraduate record. In 2001, Dr Gray received an Australian Postgraduate Award to conduct PhD research on intercountry adoptees' experiences of cultural belonging and issues of racial difference growing up in Australia. Her PhD research was published in 2009 in the book, ('Bananas, Bastards, and Victims'?:Hybrid Reflections on Cultural belonging in Intercountry adoptee narratives). Dr Gray's research work has also been included in a number of collaborative book projects in America and Australia.

Her expertise in this field has led to invitations to review and assess scholarly research for the journals, Journal of Australian Studies and Australian Journal of Adoption.

In 2014 she was invited to present her research at the International Forum on Intercountry Adoption & Global Surrogacy at The Hague, Netherlands in preparation for the Special Commission on the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption to be held in 2015.

Recent research projects include working as a Research Assistant on assessing student capabilities as part of a seed grant through the CEEHE at UoN. Previous research experience includes working as a Research Consultant with the Family Action Centre (2009), as a Research Assistant on the collaborative project with Home-Start Inc and the University of Newcastle (2004-5) and as a Research Assistant with the Hunter Division of General Practice (1996).

Fields of Research

Code

Description

Percentage

160104

Social And Cultural Anthropology

50

160899

Sociology Not Elsewhere Classified

50

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

Member - Australian Journal of Adoption

Awards

Recognition.

1999

University MedalUniversity of Newcastle N.S.W (Australia)In recognition of excellence in Bachelor of Social Science (Honours Class 1)

Research Award.

The Excellence in Research Methods PrizeUniversity of Newcastle N.S.W (Australia)Outstanding performance in 'Research Methods' course as part of Bachelor of Social Science

Teaching

Teaching keywords

Constructions of Childhood and the Family

Social Enquiry, Open Foundation, ELFS

Society and Culture

Teaching expertise

Dr Gray has been teaching in sociology at the University of Newcastle since 2001. In recent years (from 2009), she has been lecturing and tutoring in enabling education, 'Social Enquiry', Open Foundation, English Language and Foundation Studies Centre. She has taught in a number of courses in the School of Humanities and Social Science including 'Society and Culture' SOCA1010, 'Constructions of Childhood, the Family and Society' SOCA1040 and 'The Sociology of Food' SOCA3350.

Gray KM, 'Identity and international adoptees: A comparison of the Vietnamese and Korean adoptee experience in Australia', International Korean Adoption: A Fifty-Year History of Policy and Practice, Haworth Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 237-262 (2007) [B1]

Gray KM, 'Identity and international adoptees: A comparison of the Vietnamese and Korean adoptee experience in Australia', International Korean Adoption: A Fifty-Year History of Policy and Practice, Haworth Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 237-262 (2007) [B1]

Conference (3 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2013

Gray K, Irwin EL, 'Pathways to social inclusion: The participation of refugee students in higher education', National Association of Enabling Educators of Australia Conference, Melbourne, VIC (2013) [E3]

2009

Fletcher R, St George JM, Douglas SL, Gray KM, 'The dad, the chat and the cam: New father's use of the web', National Men's Health Gathering 2009: Program and Abstracts, Newcastle, NSW (2009) [E3]